Chapter 33 #2
“Mama, please. I am only just recovered from our carriage accident. I will attend to all your recommendations. First, I want to be sure we are all well.”
Esme pursed her lips and nodded slowly. “And the beauty regimen?”
“I will follow it perfectly, Mama. I understand the responsibility to represent my newfound status. I would not disappoint the ton more than I have already with the scandal of our quick marriage and the appearance of a child born out of wedlock. We will protect Aurelia from the gossips, of course, but some damage will be done. That much, I understand,” Charlotte admitted.
Her mother’s eyes began to fill with tears, and she dabbed at her eyes with her napkin.
“Oh, I am so glad you have returned to us, my dear. There was a great hole in our lives when you left. And yes, I kept busy helping your sisters navigate their entry into society, but you were constantly on my mind.”
Blinking away her own tears at her mother’s display of emotion, Charlotte clasped her mother’s hand and squeezed. She had missed her family immensely as well. Their visits had helped quell the loneliness, but there was nothing like having her family right there, a short carriage ride away.
“I hope to see my dear sisters soon. I have not spent much time with them or their husbands over the years.”
“Yes, and your nieces and nephews. Though I find your brother Walter quite exasperating. I’ve begged your brother to return from his travels and begin the process of marrying and fathering his own children, but I can hardly get a reply to my letters from him.
He fancies himself quite the world traveler.
Your father has coddled him by letting him shirk his responsibilities for the last year.
I grow impatient to see all my children married. ”
“I fear I am hardly an example, seeing as it took me this long to be settled. My time in the country allowed me to evade my own interactions with society. I only hope my reintroduction won’t bring too much shame upon us. Walter will have fewer choices in a bride if that is the case.”
“You will do wonderfully, my dear. Especially with me to guide you.” Her mother gave her a heart-warming smile and patted her hand.
“Yes, you will do well. Perkins can bring us a balm to remove these dratted sunspots. You look like a perfect little bumpkin. And some more fashionable hairstyles will do wonders.” Esme cupped Charlotte’s face affectionately.
Wincing at the reminder that she was so far from society’s ideal, Charlotte eyed her plate of pastries. “Thank you. I’ll make sure to erase any signs of my old life as much as I can.” Charlotte gave a small, humorless laugh.
Her mother turned away with a wave of her hand, taking a sip from her teacup. “If you don’t mind my prying, how is married life? Are you two getting on well?” her mother inquired, raising a brow. “He is kind to you?”
Discomfited by her mother’s scrutiny, Charlotte reached for a biscuit and took a nibble. “It is fine. We married for a very specific reason. I am content with our arrangement,” Charlotte explained, avoiding her mother’s gaze.
“Well, since your relationship has followed its own path, we never had the chance to speak of your marital duties. You know, the expectations of a wife and all that…”
“I am well versed in these obligations, Mother. If you recall, I did not come to this marriage as an untouched bride.” Charlotte flushed at the admission.
“Yes, but I would not have my daughter unhappy. You must tell me things are well between you… physically. A simple nod will do if you find this topic too titillating for a Tuesday afternoon.” Esme fanned her face with her hand, clearly embarrassed by the question, but too nosy to keep silent.
Pressing her lips together, Charlotte suppressed a cough. She nodded, unable to form the words.
“Good. A woman must not suffer the attentions of a man if he fulfills his duties well,” her mother tittered at the comment.
Relief flooded her when Esme put a piece of cake in her mouth and chewed thoughtfully. This afternoon’s tea turned interrogation was draining.
“I am not suffering at all,” she admitted, to further appease her mother.
Little did Esme know that Perry had yet to fulfill his expectations as a husband.
How humiliating to explain that her husband refused to come to her bed because of his reluctance to consummate their marriage of convenience.
He complained of his injury, but she sensed it was something else.
He had frozen in her arms once she had said she would perform her duties.
A passionate kiss had turned to a cold embrace.
If Perry didn’t relent, she might have to be more assertive.
After all, Charlotte wanted to enjoy that physical connection with her husband, even if it wasn’t the same as when they first fell in love.
Dreams of a large family would come to nothing if she couldn’t get him into her bed.
She wondered if she had the strength to take matters into her own hands, or if it would be better to simply wait for him to come to her.
Her heart fluttered in her chest as she imagined being so bold.
Reaching for what she wanted instead of letting life simply make the choices for her.